Mac's tournament: O'Connor family comes full circle

Owen O’Connor has an opportunity to earn bragging rights over both his dad and older brother.

In three appearances at the Mac’s AAA Midget Hockey Tournament, Owen’s dad Myles O’Connor — a former NHL defenceman with the New Jersey Devils and Anaheim Ducks — wasn’t able to win a championship. His older brother Logan also came away empty-handed two years ago when he played for the Calgary Royals at the annual event.

This year, Owen will become the third member of the O’Connor family to play at the Mac’s when the 16-year-old defenceman suits up for the Royals, who start the tournament on Boxing Day (8 p.m., Max Bell Centre) with a tough test in the feature game against the German Under-17 Nationals.

“I always wanted to play in the Mac’s,” said Owen, who decided to follow after his dad and play defence. “It was really special being able to see my brother play a few years ago. Just knowing that my dad and brother played, it’s a special feeling and I’m really excited.”

No pressure, though, said his older brother.

“He’s the last chance for the O’Connor family, so hopefully he can get it done,” said Logan, 18, who won’t be able to stick around and watch Owen play because he’s leaving on Friday to head back to South Dakota where he’s in his second season playing as a forward at the Junior A level for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League. “Unfortunately I won’t be able to see him, but he knows I’ll be rooting for him and the Royals this year.”

Logan said he’s sure Owen will fully enjoy his Mac’s experience.

“It’s just crazy the exposure the tournament gets and just how good of a tournament it is,” said Logan, who has committed to attend the University of Denver next season where he’ll play for the Pioneers. “It’s got to be one of the best in the world. Knowing that my dad played there just added to it. It was always just a dream for me to play in it.”

Like his sons after him, Myles played at the Mac’s for the Royals back in 1981.

“My first year when I was with the Royals, we billeted a team from Richelieu,” said Myles in regards to the Eclaireurs du Richelieu, who won the tournament. “That was kind of neat that early in the Mac’s, they had lots of teams from Canada — Quebec, the Maritimes, Ontario — and then they had a little bit of an American presence as well. They didn’t have the international teams like they seem to have these days, but back then it was neat seeing all the different teams from across Canada.”

Myles remembers seeing one of those teams — the Notre Dame Hounds out of Wilcox, Sask. — win the tourney title in 1980. He went on to attend high school at the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame and played for the Hounds at the Mac’s in 1982 and again the following year, but was unable to get his hands on the Mac’s Cup.

“I’ve always loved the Mac’s ever since the beginning,” said Myles, who played four seasons for the University of Michigan Wolverines under legendary coach Red Berenson.

He then went on to play another decade of professional hockey — including 43 NHL games for the New Jersey Devils and Anaheim Mighty Ducks and one year in Japan with the Kushiro Cranes.

“I had a great experience,” said Myles, who returned home to Calgary to go into business with his father Graham running O’Connors, a men’s and women’s clothing and footwear store. “I’m involved in the family business now. I had a good run in hockey. When it was time to pack it in, I had no regrets.”

The proud father enjoyed getting the opportunity to watch Logan play for the Royals 30 years after his final appearance at the tournament with the Hounds.

“For kids growing up in Calgary, it’s kind of the pinnacle to play in the Mac’s tournament, so it was very neat to see Logan play in it,” said Myles, while adding that he and his wife Cathy are looking forward to watching Owen play at the 37th annual tournament. “It’s great. He watched Logan play in it so that was always a goal of his. When he was able to make the Midget AAAs this year, he was really looking forward to it.”

Owen and his teammates believe that they have what it takes to become the first host team to win the Mac’s title since the Calgary Buffaloes accomplished the feat in 2008.

“We really want to kind of turn that around,” said Owen. “There’s only been one Royals team (in 1994) to win it so far, so we want to be the second one for sure.”

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